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National long distance service beyond service area to the private
operators will be opened for competition with effect from January 1,
2000. To promote setting up long distance bandwidth capacity in the
country, provide a choice to consumers and promote competition, all
NLDOs should be able to access subscribers. With a view to achieve
the above, all access providers shall be mandatorily required to
provide interconnection to the NLDOs resulting in choice for
subscribers to make long distance calls through any operator. For
this purpose, the terms and conditions and other modalities would be
worked out in consultation with TRAI and the same will be announced
by August 15, 1999. The terms and conditions would also specify the
number of operators, licence conditions on revenue sharing basis and
other related issues.
Usage of the existing backbone network of public and private power
transmission companies / Railways / GAIL, ONGC etc. shall be allowed
immediately for national long distance data communication and from
January 1, 2000 for national long distance voice communications.
Resale would be permitted for domestic telephony, announcement for
the modalities thereof to be announced alongwith the opening up of
national long distance by August 15, 1999. Resale on international
long distance will not be permitted till the year 2004.
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